Falcons Will Interview 2 More Coordinators for Coaching Vacancy Saturday
While the NFL playoffs begin Saturday, the Atlanta Falcons will be interviewing multiple candidates for their coaching vacancy, hoping in 2024 they'll be able to return to the postseason for the first time since 2017.
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, pictured with the Carolina Panthers.
USA Today
According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Arthur Blank and the Falcons are interviewing Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan Saturday afternoon, and then will pivot to San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks this evening.
Callahan has been the offensive coordinator for the Bengals since Zac Taylor became the coach in 2019. While Taylor and Callahan have had excellent talent to work with in the likes of quarterback Joe Burrow, running back Joe Mixon and receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, it's hard not to be impressed by the job they have done changing the culture in that organization.
The 39-year-old Callahan was part of a staff that helped the Bengals to finish with a winning record in 2023, despite Jake Browning take over at quarterback in mid-November when the aforementioned Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury.
Meanwhile, Wilks is in his first year as defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, working under former Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
Wilks was previously the coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, but was fired after a 3-13 season where he seemingly wasn't given a fair chance to show what type of culture he could build over the long-term.
The Carolina Panthers went 6-6 with Wilks as their interim coach in 2022, quite the improvement after a 1-4 start under Matt Rhule. Owner David Tepper elected to seek a coach with an offensive background -- Frank Reich was eventually hired -- rather than giving Wilks the job on a full-time basis.
Since the Bengals narrowly missed the playoffs, Callahan is free to interview whenever, and, in theory, could be hired at any point once the Rooney Rule is satisfied.
Wilks is eligible to interview Saturday since the 49ers have a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs. Atlanta would need to wait until after San Francisco's postseason run ends if they wanted to hire Wilks as their next coach.
Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald became the first candidate to interview for the job Friday.
The Falcons reportedly have also requested to interview Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and Ravens assistant head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver.
And, of course, Bill Belichick, Jim Harbaugh, Mike Vrabel and Pete Carroll are all available, and will loom over all coaching searches this offseason.
